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LETTER 5（第1页）

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“TheWorksofCharlesandMaryLamb—Volume5（.shg.tw）”

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LETTER5

CHARLESLAMBTOS.T.COLERIDGE

[ProbablybegunonWednesday，June29.P.M.July1，1796.]

ThefirstmomentIcaneIwill，butmyhopesofingyetawhileyethangonaticklishthread.ThecoachIebyisimmaterialasIshallsoeasilybyyourdirectionfindyeout.Mymotherisgrownsoentirelyhelpless（nothavinganyuseofherlimbs）thatMaryisnecessarilyconfinedfromeversleepingout，shebeingherbedfellow.Shethanksyouthoandwillacpanymeinspirit.MostexquisitearethelinesfromWithers.YourownlinesintroductorytoyourpoemonSelfrunsmoothlyandpleasurably，andIexhortyoutocontinueem.WhatshallIsaytoyourDactyls?Theyarewhatyouwouldcallgoodperse，butaparodyonsomeofemisjustnowsuggestingitself，andyoushallhaveitroughandunlicked.Imarkwithfiguresthelinesparodied.

4.—SórelyyourDáctylsdodrágalonglimp-footed.

5.—Sádistheméasurethathangsaclodroúndemso，

6.—Méagre，andlanguid，procláimingitswrétchedness.

1.—Wéary，unsátisfied，nótlittlesickofem.

11.—Cóldismytíredheart，íhavenochárity.

2.—Páinfullytrávllingthusóvertherúggedroad.

7.—óbegone，Méasure，halfLátin，halfEnglish，then.

12.—DismalyourDáctylsare，Gódhelpye，rhymingOnes.

Ipossiblymaynotethisfortnight—thereforeallthouhasttodoisnottolookformeanyparticularday，onlytowritewordimmediatelyifatanytimeyouquitBristol，lestIeandTaffybenotathome.IhopeIcaneinadayortwo.ButyoungSavoryofmyofficeissuddenlytakenillinthisverynickoftimeandImustofficiateforhimtillhecanetoworkagain.Hadtheknavegonesickanddiedandputrefiedatanyothertime，philosophymighthaveaffordedonefort，butjustnowIhavenopatiencewithhim.QuarlesIamasgreatastrangertoasIwastoWithers.Iwishyouwouldtryanddosomethingtobringourelderbardsintomoregeneralfame.IwrithewithindignationwheninbooksofCriticism，wheremonplace"

ationisheapedupon"

ation，IfindnomentionofsuchmenasMassinger，orB.andFl，menwithwhomsucceedingDramaticWriters（Otwayaloneexcepted）canbearnomannerofparison.StupidKnoxhathnoticednoneofemamonghisextracts.

Thursday.—Mrs.C.canscarceguesshowshehasgratifiedmebyherverykindletterandsweetlittlepoem.IfeelthatIshouldthankherinrhyme，butshemusttakemyacknowledgmentatpresentinplainhonestprose.TheuncertaintyinwhichIyetstandwhetherIcaneornodampsmyspirits，reducesmeadegreebelowprosaical，andkeepsmeinasuspensethatfluctuatesbetweenhopeandfear.Hopeisacharming，lively，blue-eyedwench，andIamalwaysgladofherpany，butcoulddispensewiththevisitorshebringswithher，heryoungersister，Fear，awhite-liverd，lilly-cheeked，bashful，palpitating，awkwardhussey，thathangslikeagreengirlathersistersapronstrings，andwillgowithherwhithersoevershegoes.ForthelifeandsoulofmeIcouldnotimprovethoselinesinyourpoemonthePrinceandPrincess，soIchangedthemtowhatyoubidmeandleftematPerrys.Ithinkemaltogethergood，anddonotseewhyyouweresollicitousaboutanyalteration.Ihavenotyetseen，butwillmakeitmybusinesstosee，to-daysChronicle，foryourversesonHorneTook.Dyerstanzadhiminoneofthepaperstotherday，butIthinkunsuccessfully.TookesfriendsmeetingwasIsupposeadinnerofCONDOLENCE.Iamnotsorrytofindyou（forallSara）immersedincloudsofsmokeandmetaphysic.YouknowIhadasneakingkindnessforthislastnoblescience，andyoutaughtmesomesmatteringofit.Ilooktobeenomeanproficientunderyourtuition.Coleridge，whatdoyoumeanbysayingyouwrotetomeaboutPlutarchandPorphyry—Ireceivednosuchletter，norrememberasyllableofthematter，yetamnotapttoforgetanypartofyourepistles，leastofallaninjunctionlikethat.Iwillcastaboutforem，thoIamasadhandtoknowwhatbooksareworth，andboththoseworthygentlemenarealikeoutofmyline.To-morrowIshallbelesssuspensiveandinbettercuetowrite，sogoodbyeatpresent.

FridayEvening.—ThatexecrablearistocratandknaveRichardsonhasgivenmeanabsoluterefusalofleave!Thepoormancannotguessatmydisappointment.Isitnothard，"

thisdreaddependanceonthelowbredmind?"

Continuetowritetometho，andImustbecontent—Ourlovesandbestgoodwishesattenduponyouboth.

LAMB.

Savorydidreturn，butthereare2or3moreillandabsent，whichwasthepleaforrefusingme.Iwillnevermitmypeaceofmindbydependingonsuchawretchforafavorinfuture，soshallneverhavehearttoaskforholidaysagain.Themannexthiminoffice，Cartwright，furnishedhimwiththeobjections.

C.LAMB.